Doug Beghtel/ The OregonianClub 915 bartender Patrick Branch, on left, and club manager Curtis Mazelin talk about the night one of their security guards was shot and killed outside the club and what might have led up to that event.

The manager and owner of Club 915 today expressed their sorrow and dismay for the early morning New Year's shooting outside their downtown Portland club that left security bouncer Ruben E. Mata, 32, dead.

"It is with heavy hearts that we're here today," manager Curtis Mazelin said. "All of us employees and everyone associated with Club 915 want to express their deepest condolences to the Mata family."

Mata, who was working for Top Flyte Security that night and filling in for a friend at Club 915, was born and raised in Washington, and a father of three young boys who live with their mom in Nevada.

The club plans to reopen Friday night and donate a portion of their January revenue to Mata's family.

Club owner Frank Chin, who has owned and managed the club for the last year and a half, said he was disturbed by the needless gun violence.

"It is time for us to unite as a community and put an end to gun violence. It comes down to each of us truly caring and valuing the human life," Mazelin said, reading from a prepared statement inside the cavernous, approximately 10,000-square foot club.

The New Year’s Eve event at the club was advertised as “A Glamorous Affair,’’ with DJs playing hip hop music and catering to a diverse crowd, the owner said. Flowers and candles in Mata’s memory still sit in a heap outside the front of the building, drawing occasional looks and comments from downtown pedestrians.

Police said Mata and other club employees were escorting a group of people outside the bar after a disturbance had occurred inside.

Club 915 to hold fundraiser for Mata familyCurtis Mazelin, manager of Club 915, talks to the media about their efforts to raise funds for the Mata family almost a week after Ruben Mata was shot during a disturbance at Club 915 New Year's eve night

Mazelin said he didn't see the feud inside the club, but it apparently occurred on the upstairs floor and security broke it up.

"A couple of guys started mouthing off," Mazelin said. So Mata and other security escorted those involved, and some of their friends before any fight erupted inside, he said.

The club had extra security for New Year's; about 13 guards working, the owner said.

Once outside, further altercations occurred while about 200 people remained inside the establishment.

Traffic Sgt. Mike Fort watched the shooting outside Club 915 unfold early New Year's Day, and fired at the man who was shooting at the bouncer, police said. Chief Mike Reese said Fort fired one round at Kevin Charles Moffett, 31, of Portland, as Moffett was shooting at Mata.

Mata was found dead outside the club by the corner of Southwest Second Avenue and Taylor Street.

Fort continued to chase after the suspect. Moffett, of Portland, was arrested shortly afterwords at 1:37 am. at Southwest Fourth Avenue and Taylor Street. He was arraigned this week on allegations of murder, murder with a firearm, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution.

Moffett was described by police as an associate of the Crip gang, and was with a group of people who were escorted out of the club after fights inside, the chief said.

The Portland Police Bureau recovered one spent bullet casing from the sergeant's firearm on Southwest Taylor, slightly west of Second Avenue. Reese said the bullet hit a wall. He said the officer had a "clear backstop" when firing the single shot outside the club, Because the shot did not strike anyone, the Multnomah County District Attorney's office will not present the case to a grand jury for review.

Bartender Patrick Branch said he saw police emergency lights flashing outside but never heard the gunfire. He was stunned someone had been killed. He wondered what happened to the old days where bar beefs were settled with fists, not firearms.

"This is a whole different deal," Branch said.

A benefit for Ruben 'Q' Mata & his family, including a celebration of his life will be held on Jan .16 at 5 p.m. at Barrel Room PDX off Northwest 3rd Avenue and Couch Street.